The Kitchen Next Door-Glendale

Greetings, loved ones! Today my post is about one of my favorite spots that is purely bona fide: The Kitchen Next Door. The name of this restaurant could not be more fitting of what this magical place truly embodies. A true 'kitchen' is dear to me, partially because of my upbringing and the value of one. From what I have experienced, a kitchen is much more than a room, or in this case a restaurant. It is what makes a house a home and what makes this restaurant a retreat. It is an embracing, gathering place where extrinsic worries are simply left at the door and  the essential joy of enjoying each others company takes prominence. Everything fits the description: from the hostesses that gracefully welcome you, to the servers that know your name plus your favorite glass of vino, and the food that comes straight from local farms to caring hands and onto your plate. Not only are you receiving pure delight here, but you are also giving back as well! The Kitchen donates portions of certain items on the menu to programs allowing children to learn and grow their own whole food. I can try to describe the love of this restaurant but in order to actually experience it, you must go. I am almost sure you will leaving saying, "I get it."

The Kitchen Next Door in Glendale is my location of choice  because of proximity, but there are multiple locations in Denver, as well as the Boulder area. However, I'm patiently waiting for Glendale's upstairs patio to open on Mother's Day! The only thing that would be better than their upstairs patio, food, and a glass of their rose on tap, would be my mother in the flesh! Well, one can dream I guess.

There have been many solo trips made to the Kitchen Next Door, and I am more than pleased to admit that. I grab the closest high top table every time or sit bar side, although you can never really go wrong. Recently, one of the bar tenders informed me that they just got written up in 5280 Magazine for the first time. I am an avid reader of 5280, and I am not trying to bash the quality of the magazine, but this just goes to show the politics that go along with having such a main stream news feed.  There needs to be a magazine about pure foodie pleasure and no BS (excuse my language, but as you can see, I feel strongly about this.) Nevertheless, The Kitchen Next Door's food, beverages, and service are the bees knees. I would rate it the top of the town any day. 

What I ordered: 

Crispy Garlic Smashers- side of lemon aioli

Veggie Antipasti platter-  consisting of grilled wholewheat flat bread, cumin dusted roasted carrots, roasted beets, and a fabulous marinated bean salad 

The Kitchen Tomato Soup- simple, yet delicious. 

Since working at Whole Foods, I have tried many new foods and diets. Not because I want to diet, but because I want to see what all the fuss is about with these trends: gluten-free, diary free, etc. If you do not truly have an allergy to these foods, I have found that anyone can still enjoy these foods on occasion. I had an experience with a customer who approached me, telling me she wanted to try a vegan 'cleanse.' I then asked her why and she replied with "to lose weight." It took every bone in my body not to scream. Switching to a vegan diet is not a diet to lose wight, it is a life style, so it is not possible to uphold to these standards without healthy, gradual changes. I didn't continue with an immediate rant, nor did I try to correct her. Since this particular lady is a frequent customer, I knew I would be seeing her again soon. Lo and behold, a week later she came crawling back to the chef's case, only to affirm my original assumption. I asked her how her vegan diet was going and she said, "I've gained weight, I'm tired, and I feel like crap, so give me a chicken breast!" All I could do at this point was laugh, not at her but with her. I then went into what the vegan life style entails and why people choose it. In fact when I went vegan for a week I gained weight too. I found myself turning to other carbs that are not necessarily good for you because they add in other ingredients to boost the flavor. I told her that you need to choose a "diet" based on what your body responds the best to. I have learned over many years that my body doesn't like carbs in the morning and that it won't process meat, so I have altered my life style based on what my body has told me. She ended up going back to her protein-rich diet, that included lots of non-vegan items. A week later she told me she felt great and lost the weight. The bottom line is that our bodies are very smart. Listen to them, respond to them, and it will treat you well. Treat it otherwise, and you will pay the price.

So, where was I? Oh right, trying new things! In this dish, I decided to try gluten-free noodles. Not half bad. Not the richness of the real deal, but pretty good.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo:
gluten-free noodles
1 pound large shrimp
1 can San Marzano chopped tomatoes
crushed red pepper
lemon juice
1 onion
1 cup dry white wine
3 garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 big bunch of chopped italian parsley leaves
1 bunch of chopped basil
olive oil
salt and pepper

In a separate bowl toss the shrimp with olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add the shrimp to a hot pan and sauté for about a minute on each side, no more. Take the shrimp off and set aside. In that same pan add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 4-5 minters. Add the can of tomatoes, wine, garlic, and oregano. Simmer until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the shrimp back in, toss to coat and cook for a minute or two. Then stir in the parsley and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir and enjoy with a loved one!

You are exactly where you need to be. I love this quote. Today I want to go on a rant about being present. There are so many times I find myself in the middle of a project or surgery without thinking about the task itself. I find my mind wondering about a million other things. Sometimes in life we subconsciously take the hard way to meet our goals without even noticing it. If we focus our energy into what is right in front of us, we can optimize our time. By this, I do not mean rushing through the task as quickly as possible, but rather, taking in your surroundings: the sounds, smells, voices, people, passions, the mood, the fact that you are alive and healthy! NOT: If I just quickly complete this day/task, then I can ______ (fill in blank with vice of choice!)

I do not mean to lecture you, but what I am really trying to say is remember the magnificence of your actual existence! It is impossible to cure our bodies, if we are not equally caring for our souls. No matter what you are doing, take the time to come back to your senses and be present throughout your day. My friend Terri inspired me to write today's thoughts because I am guilty of not being present, too. Life is all about the little things so I want to share with you some of my favorites:

Red Wine- Charles Shaw: this is a new pick for me from Trader Joe's ....Who doesn't like a bottle of two buck chuck that tastes fabulous?! Tonight I had a 2012 that was just radical.
my ideal scenario: long day+bubble bath+lit Anthropology candles

White Wine- Oyster Bay: amazing sauvignon blanc.
my ideal scenario: picnic in wash park on a perfect summer evening (think light appetizers: cocktail shrimp, caprese salad, greek olive mix, etc.)

Magazine-Bon Appetit, this magazine inspires me in so many ways. First, it is the only magazine that I read from start to finish. Also, every time I read it I always learn something interesting and new.
my ideal scenario: lazy sunday morning... a cup of Conscious Coffee with Organic Valley Hazelnut creamer, big blue (my favorite blanket that never does me wrong), and my baby girl, Lou... only the most precious Golden Retriever you will ever meet. :)

And many more to come...